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American Morning

Assessing the Threat; Bin Laden: Up Close; Emmy Nominations

Aired July 15, 2004 - 9:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks for joining us, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. Bill is on vacation this week, and Soledad is resting up.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Anderson Cooper, trying to fill in for Bill Hemmer.

Some of the news making headlines this morning, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says the government is providing unprecedented security for the Democratic convention, which begins, of course, later this month. Ridge and the acting CIA director were in Boston yesterday. We're going to hear their comments. Also, talked to Chris Cox, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee about the threat level.

COLLINS: Also, in California, attorney Mark Geragos asking that murder charges be thrown out against Scott Peterson. We'll look at his complaint and whether the judge is likely to take it seriously.

COOPER: Also, Emmy nominations were just announced a few minutes ago. Some surprises. We'll tell you who is getting the recognition and which shows are the big surprises this year.

COLLINS: For now though, American officials are saying that they are very concerned about al Qaeda and the threat to somehow disrupt the presidential election. Yesterday, after inspecting security for the upcoming Democratic convention, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge described the quality of information behind their concern.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: They're credible, trustworthy sources, not terribly specific in terms of who, what, when and where, but targeting an opportune targeting attempt to undermine the democratic process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: The chairman of the House Homeland Security, Representative Chris Cox, is in Washington now. He speaks with us about the very latest here.

Good morning to you, sir. Thanks for being with us.

I want to ask you about what Tom Ridge said there, as well as the acting CIA chief, John McLaughlin. What he said was, "This is about as serious a threat environment as I have seen since 9/11." To you, is it all but inevitable that an attack, or at least a threat of an attack, is going to happen?

REP. CHRIS COX (R), CALIFORNIA: Well, of course it is inevitable we'll have a threat. We have a threat, we're living with a threat, but it's not inevitable that terrorists can succeed in the way that they did on September 11.

Obviously, when people are willing to blow themselves up, it makes it enormously difficult to preempt them every time. But we've been very, very successful since September 11. And, as you know, because some of it has been made public, there have been al Qaeda plots that have been intercepted. That's true not only in the United States, but also around the world. The security that we are going to see at the Democratic and Republican conventions coming up very, very shortly is going to make it much, much more difficult for people, terrorists or anyone else, who wants to wreak havoc to do so.

COLLINS: Representative Cox, you did just hear Tom Ridge say that this information on these threats, possible attacks, is very credible information. But no real specifics. How do you guard against any type of threat or attacker that you cannot really identify?

COX: Well, we do know who al Qaeda are. We know essentially where they are and where they're operating. I think you can infer from these very general public announcements when we say it's credible that this isn't just analysts piecing together what terrorists might do, but rather what we've been able to learn about specific terrorist capabilities and intentions.

That permits us to place our necessarily limited resources. Although we're increasing the amount of money and people that we put to work on this constantly, it means we put our limited resources to work right where they can do the most good.

COLLINS: And some of those resources obviously going to what we've learned to be called sleeper cells. Want to talk about that possibility, of al Qaeda already being or possibly already being on U.S. soil. Acting CIA director, once again, John McLaughlin, telling CNN that they are very concerned about these so-called sleeper cells. Let's listen in for just a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, ACTING CIA DIRECTOR: We have to go on the assumption that they, despite all of the effective defenses we've erected, and despite the increasing effectiveness of our homeland security, we have to go on this assumption. We can be excellent 1,000 times. All they have to do is be lucky once.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: What's being done to monitor those sleeper cells in an event of an attack?

COX: Here in the United States, domestic counterterrorism is principally the business of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Oversees operations are conducted by agencies such as the CIA. There is a close nexus in our country between counterterrorism and law enforcement, and so there is now an increasing sharing network between state and local law enforcement and federal authorities.

COLLINS: Are they sharing enough, though, Representative Cox, in your mind? Are they sharing enough?

COX: Well, to make sure that we get constantly better at this, the Homeland Security Committee, which I chair, is going to be moving legislation early next week to make sure that we have even better sharing, better infrastructure for doing so. Some of this gets down to, do we have secure networks, security IT connections between different levels of government, between different agencies?

We're investing a lot in that. We're trying to make sure we do it in a smart way. And I'll tell you, at the human level, the chiefs of police, the detectives, the intelligence people with state and local law enforcement are communicating as never before with their federal counterparts, and globally, in addition.

COLLINS: Representative Chris Cox this morning, thank you so much. Coming to us from Washington today.

COX: Happy to join you.

COLLINS: Anderson?

COOPER: Well, of course one of the big security concerns, Osama bin Laden. He is still one of the world's most notorious men, one of the most mysterious. Most likely, no one outside his inner circle really knows where he is.

Carmen bin Laden once lived in the al Qaeda leader's inner circle. She married one of bin Laden's more than two dozen brothers and made her him among his family in Saudi Arabia. Carmen bin Laden is now suing for divorce form her husband, and she has written about her experience in a book called "Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia." Earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, I asked her why she decided to write the book.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARMEN BIN Laden, AUTHOR, "INSIDE THE KINGDOM": I wrote that book for my daughter, first of all, to explain the Saudi society to them, the Saudi culture, and why I had made some decision on their behalf that had changed so dramatically their life. Because emotionally -- because my daughter had been rejected by the bin Laden family and the bin Laden clan, and by their father, because I managed to keep them outside of Saudi Arabia and give them the -- the Western values.

COOPER: You met Osama bin Laden when you were living in Saudi Arabia with your husband and with your family. When you first met him, what -- did you think?

BIN Laden: Actually, you know, in Saudi Arabia, the society doesn't allow you to meet -- and especially if your brother-in-law is very religious. Osama wouldn't sit and discuss with me. But I came -- I came to see him two times -- three times, and two times I was well, and another time it just happened that I -- he knocked at the door. He wanted to see my husband, and I opened the door. And I was face to face to him.

COOPER: And he was very sort of flustered by that?

Laden: Yes. He just turned his -- -- and walk away.

COOPER: What was your impression of him?

Laden: Well, you know, I knew he was a very religious person. He was well admired, because when the Soviet Union invited Afghanistan, he went to fight with the Mujahadeen...

COOPER: Right.

Laden: ... in Afghanistan, and he was really admired, and they respected him in Saudi Arabia for his involvement in Afghanistan.

COOPER: Do you -- do you still think he is admired and respected by -- by many in Saudi Arabia, and also perhaps even by his own family still?

Laden: Yes, I do believe that. Yes. I think that he has -- he has a lot of -- a lot of admirers in Saudi Arabia.

COOPER: Do you think he still gets financial support from his family?

Laden: I think that it's very difficult for the bin Ladens to let down their brother so easily.

COOPER: For -- I mean, you grew up in Europe, and yet you were living in Saudi Arabia. The life is so different. Describe what it is like being a woman in Saudi Arabia. I mean, you can't go anywhere. You -- you are veiled, you -- I think at one point walking across the street was considered a big victory.

Laden: Yes, it was. But, you know, for me, as a mother of two daughters at the time, what was bothering me was that I was wondering what their future would be as...

COOPER: As a woman.

Laden: ... in that -- as a woman in that society. In Saudi Arabia, a woman can be -- can be independent financially and own -- own property, but morally she's always under the tutorship of a male relative.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: That was Carmen bin Laden, former sister-in-law of Osama bin Laden, with us earlier -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Just about 10 minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Daryn Kagan -- Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And Heidi, for that, we're going to start in Iraq, where a new security service is being formed to battle insurgents. Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says the new service will "annihilate those terrorists, god willing." Allawi invited several other countries to send troops to help secure Iraq. He spoke just two hours after two suspected suicide bombers detonated a bomb near a police roadblock outside of Karbala.

Also today, a car bombing in western Iraq killed at least 10 Iraqis.

Here in the U.S., there's a new study out. It says that some common household products could pose a health hazard. The study suggests that toxic chemicals may be found in some makeup, some cleaning supplies, but they aren't mentioned on the labels. Consumer industry officials acknowledge the findings but insist the products are safe.

Former Chicago Bears head coach, Mike Ditka, says he will not be uprooting his life. Ditka speaking today about his decision not to run for a Senate seat in Illinois. Ditka's decision leaves Republican without a candidate less than four months before Election Day.

Supporters of same-sex marriage are cheering the defeat of a proposed constitutional amendment that would have banned such unions. The proposed amendment fell a dozen votes short of the number needed just to clear a procedural hurdle yesterday. President Bush said he was disappointed that the amendment was blocked and urged the House to take up the matter. Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards did not vote on that procedural vote.

Less than a half hour ago, the Emmy nominations were announced in Los Angeles. That's where we find our Sibilia Vargas with a look at who is in and who is out -- Sibila.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a very big day for the Emmys, 56 annual Emmy nominations. And let's get right to it.

In the comedy category, "Arrested Development," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Sex in the City," "Will and Grace." And let me just tell you that "Arrested Development" is the big surprise right now. It's a show that's really been loved by the critics, but it hasn't done very well in the ratings.

So right now, "Arrested Development" is looking very good. And I'm sure there's a lot of happy folks out there.

Now, in drama, in the drama series, "CSI," "Joan of Arcadia," "The Sopranos," "24" and "The West Wing." And I have to point out that "The Sopranos" had 20 nominations. It's the most in this -- in the series category.

Also, it's very important to point out that "Joan of Arcadia" got a nomination. That's a show that, again, it's with CBS. It hasn't done that well in the ratings. A lot of critics didn't think it was going to make it.

But you know what? It did. It's a show that focuses a lot on -- on spirituality. And I think it had god on its side.

Amber Tamblyn also, she's one of the young actresses on the show, and she was also nominated. And that's a huge surprise, because now she's going to be, of course, facing some big top competition, like Edie Falco.

Another -- in the mini series category, "Angels in America" had the most nominations. That's HBO. Twenty-one nominations. Of course, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson, all the actors and actresses that were on that -- on that mini series were definitely helpful.

So that's the story coming to you live from the Emmy nominations.

KAGAN: All right. All right, girlfriend, let's talk "Friends" and the series. Two key acting nominations, but the series not nominated for best comedy series.

VARGAS: Not -- no, not nominated. You know, a lot of people were thinking that "Friends" and "Frasier" were both going to get nominated. But unfortunately, you know, it was their finale and they were snubbed, you know?

Jennifer Aniston was actually the only person that was nominated. And actually Matt Le Blanc as well. But definitely a lot of -- a lot of critics are going to have a tough time with that one.

KAGAN: We will be watching as people get to talk about it leading up to when they're handed out in September. Sibila Vargas joining us from southern California. Thank you for that.

And we'll toss it back to New York.

COLLINS: All right, Daryn. Thanks a lot.

Testimony continuing today at Scott Peterson's double murder trial in Redwood City, California. Everyone still waiting to hear from Peterson's ex-girlfriend, Amber Frey, who has yet to testify at the trial. And joining to us discuss all of latest developments now, CNN's Rusty Dornin.

Rusty, hello.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, the cross- examination of one of the key investigators is under way, Detective Dodge Hendee. Defense attorney Mark Geragos questioned him extensively about the bay searches that were conducted on the bottom of the bay looking for any signs of the home-made anchors that prosecutors claim that Scott Peterson made, or even other parts of Laci Peterson's body, implying that if they didn't find it with the high technology that they were using, perhaps it wasn't there.

Also, it came out that there were searches conducted in April during jury selection. They actually went back and did some of their sonar searches of the bay, but it turned up nothing.

Hendee is also the one that discovered the controversial hair, and also the cement anchor and the cement residue that prosecutors claim shows that Scott Peterson made other anchors which he used to weight down his wife's body. But some of the most interesting testimony was out of earshot of the jury yesterday morning.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos did -- is going to ask for charges to be dismissed against his client, claiming that one of the other lead investigators, detective Al Brocchini, did lie upon the stand about some information that he did receive from a tipster. Also, the judge watched some of the -- one of the -- or two of the interviews, actually, that Diane Sawyer did with Scott Peterson in those interviews.

Scott Peterson said that he told police he was having an affair with Amber Frey. Investigators recently have testified that he did not. He also referred to his wife in the past tense, and then quickly corrected himself.

As we said, Detective Dodge Hendee will be back on the stand today. But then this afternoon, the jury will be let out again, and the judge will watch two other television interviews, one of them with CNN's own Ted Rowlands that he conducted with Scott Peterson -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. Rusty Dornin, thanks so much for the update from there -- Anderson.

COOPER: Well, a setback for the defense in the Kobe Bryant case. The judge will allow a secretly recorded police statement and evidence from the room where the alleged sexual assault occurred to be used at trial. Reporter Alex Stone has been covering the Bryant case for radio station KOA. He joins us now from Denver, Colorado.

Good morning, Alex.

ALEX STONE, KOA: Good morning, Anderson. How are you?

COOPER: Let's talk about this conversation secretly recorded by police. A lot of it is inaudible, apparently. But the judge is admitting it. Why?

STONE: The judge is going to admit it. It's a 72-minute tape, Anderson. It's a tape that we understand a lot of it you really can't understand what Kobe Bryant is saying in it.

Mainly, it is a tape that was taken and Kobe Bryant didn't know he was being recorded. But it's when detectives showed up at the spa at Cordillera to interview him, the very first initial interviews. The judge says Kobe Bryant had no reason to feel like he was in custody, so those detectives did not need to read him his Miranda rights, the right to remain silent, everything we see on TV, or some of us may have heard a time or two.

But they did not need to do that. They did not do it. But later statements will be tossed out, because at that time the judge says Kobe Bryant may have felt like he was in custody, and that's why he's tossing those later statements out.

COOPER: And I guess the most important piece of physical evidence that the judge has just decided to allow in is this T-shirt.

STONE: Yes, this is the T-shirt that for a long time both sides have been fighting about. This is a T-shirt that was taken by investigators the night they went to Kobe Bryant. They said, "Can we have your T-shirt?" The judge says they will be able to use it in court because Kobe Bryant freely gave it to them.

He did not fight them at all. They didn't need a search warrant to take it, because they asked and he handed it to them. This is a shirt with the accuser's blood on it, a very small amount of blood, but blood nonetheless. And now it will be allowed in the trial.

COOPER: Now, the evidence from Kobe Bryant's physical examination not being allowed in the trial. Interesting, though, the examination took place at night. I mean, I think a lot of people didn't realize this thing really took place beginning after like 1:00 a.m.

STONE: Yes. Most of it happened in the wee hours of the morning. And the examination of Kobe Bryant, the male rape exam hit, happened at almost 3:00 in the morning. And it was -- mainly DNA samples taken from Mr. Bryant, and an examination of his body for any bruises.

But at that time, he was told about a court order. So the -- a court order saying, according to the detectives, they said they had a right to take that evidence. So Kobe Bryant went along with it.

The judge says, because they told him about that court order, that he very well could have thought that he was in custody, and that's why the judge threw that out. Also, some of the evidence that was taken, the judge threw that out because the warrant, the order that they had, is called a 41-1 (ph) here in Colorado, and it only allows them to do that during the daytime.

All of the detectives said they didn't know that. They did this at 3:00 in the morning. But under the law and what was on that warrant, it's not allowed.

COOPER: All right. Alex Stone with KOA Radio. Thanks very much, Alex.

STONE: Thanks, Anderson.

COLLINS: We want to go ahead and get a check on the weather now. Chad Myers standing by at the CNN Center with the very latest.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COOPER: Chad, thanks very much.

One of my favorite actresses, Edie Falco, was just nominated for best actress Emmy for her huge on HBO's huge hit, "The Sopranos." Ms. Falco joins us live from Los Angeles.

Edie, it's great to see you again. Congratulations.

EDIE FALCO, ACTRESS, "THE SOPRANOS": Thank you, Anderson. And I love your show, I just wanted to say.

COOPER: Oh, I bet you say that to all the anchors.

FALCO: I do.

COOPER: Did you expect this at all? Because when it was read out, I think you said, "Oy."

FALCO: Like a good Italian girl. No, I didn't expect it. I didn't expect it. I have -- you know, I've been surprised at every turn with these award things. So I think you know what happens when you assume.

COOPER: Hey, I've heard. You've already won, though, I mean, three Emmys. Does it change the acting process in any way? I mean does it -- you know, I don't know if you read reviews about yourself, but does it change the way you think about -- about your role, about the character?

FALCO: No, it doesn't. It shouldn't. I think it's important that it doesn't, actually.

It can really skew the way you go about your work if you're going in terms of, you know, how people like you. You know? I think as long as I continue doing what I've been doing, whatever that is, I will be on the right track.

But, you know, it's an honor, it's exciting, and all that stuff. But as far as actually showing up on the set and doing the work, I hope it doesn't change as a result of awards or not awards.

COOPER: I've got to admit, I'm in complete denial that next season is the last season of "The Sopranos." Because, frankly, I really don't know what I will do.

FALCO: You and me both.

COOPER: I know, what I'll do on Sundays after this thing ends. I was afraid this season you were going to get killed. I was -- I watched every night, worried that this was going to happen.

FALCO: I'm glad you didn't tell me.

COOPER: What do you think is going to happen to Carmela -- well, it seemed that way. Some of the commercials kind of indicated it. I mean, you had this vicious divorce happening, but then in the end you guys are back together, you and Tony Soprano back together.

What do you think is -- I know you can't say and you don't even know what's going to happen. What would you like to see happen with Carmela? FALCO: The best thing is that I don't have to make decisions like that. I haven't the foggiest notion. I was as surprised as anybody else that Tony and Carmela got together. So I love the fact that David Chase is now I think in a chateau in France somewhere, you know, ruminating over these things. And I just show up and say the words and get my paycheck and go home.

COOPER: Not only -- I mean, of course, "Sopranos" is on HBO. But a lot of the nominations this year also went to -- went to "Angels in America," which I think is also on HBO. What is it about -- about the work you can do at a company like HBO or elsewhere on cable that you can't do on -- on broadcast network?

FALCO: I'm not quite sure how that works. But I've never felt like this before about being genuinely proud to be a part of an organization like HBO. They just have such good taste.

They take risks, but that doesn't always translate to mean, you know, they do like experimental stuff. It just means the stuff is great, the writing is great, the act something great. My experience of watching "Angels in America" was so huge. I was just so impressed.

So I forget what the question was.

COOPER: Well, that's all right. You sort of answered the question, though you forgot what it was.

FALCO: OK.

COOPER: Edie, it is great to talk to you. And we're all huge fans of you here. Thanks for being with us this morning.

FALCO: Thank you, Anderson. Thank you.

COOPER: Congratulations again -- Heidi.

FALCO: Thank you.

COLLINS: And I do love her hair. She had that haircut last time she was here.

COOPER: She looks totally cool.

COLLINS: Yes, very cool.

COOPER: She's the boss.

COLLINS: Shorter hair than mine. It looks good.

All right. Still to come, Whoopi Goldberg speaks out on politics and loses a job. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."

COOPER: Plus, another health risk for sun bathers. There is more than sun burn apparently to worry about.

COLLINS: Plus, part four of our weeklong series, "The Truth About Lying." Today's question, who lies more, men or women? Anderson says women.

COOPER: I did not say that! You're completely making that up. She's lying! You see? She's lying!

COLLINS: I'm very good at it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: All this week, we've been looking at "The Truth About Lying." Today's focus is on men and women, and how the lies we tell can build a relationship or tear it down.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS (voice-over): It's a refrain as old as time, women say men basically lie to get what they want.

GWENDOLYN ROBINSON, HUSBAND LIED: He started telling me about all these visions that god was giving him as far as being the right person in his life. Once I found the marriage licenses and I knew he was still married to these women, I didn't want it -- to see it happen to someone else.

COLLINS: Are men always the liars and women the ones who believe them? Get ready for the truth. Researchers say women lie the same amount as men. What's different about the sexes is what they lie about.

DORY HOLLANDER, AUTHOR, "101 LIES MEN TELL WOMEN": A lot of men feel that they have to compete with other men who have more money, who have a better job, who have more status. And so men will invent themselves and reinvent themselves in order to be attractive to a woman. Some men even lie about their eye color.

COLLINS: One study found that men lie to enhance their self- esteem. The same study found women are more likely to lie to spare the feelings of others.

HOLLANDER: The most common places that women protect their relationship are in the sanctity of the bedroom, where a woman will say that she's sexually fulfilled and she's not. She wants to protect his ego, she wants to make him feel good about her, about the relationship and about his performance.

COLLINS: But these days women may be telling different kinds of lies about what happens in the bedroom. A recent poll shows that the number of married women in America who have had affairs is rising. Still, less than men, but going up 50 percent in a decade.

HOLLANDER: Understand that people lie. You lie. I lie. We all lie. But some lies are going to be not acceptable, and that's where you have to draw your line in the sand. Lies of evasion are really hurtful.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Tomorrow, as our weeklong series continues, we'll focus on how to tell if someone is lying to you.

So did you hear that? Women lie the same amount as men. We're going to do some more research on that, though, for sure.

COOPER: Still to come, a special Emmy edition of "90-Second Pop." The nominations were announced this morning. What were the surprises and which favorites missed the cut? "Deadwood." The answers are coming up.

Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: The opening bell just rang on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average starts the day at 10,208, after losing nearly 39 points yesterday. At the Nasdaq marketsite, the Composite Index opens at 1,914, down almost 17 points yesterday.

COLLINS: Just about half past the hour now on this AMERICAN MORNING. I'm Heidi Collins. Bill is on vacation this week and Soledad is resting.

COOPER: And I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for joining us this morning.

Some of the headlines we're following this morning, President Bush will speak to a national civil rights group, though it is not the NAACP. He's accepted an invitation to address The Urban League. The question is, will that satisfy civil rights leaders? A report on that coming up next.

COLLINS: Also, it's the time of year when many Americans lay out in the sun. And even with sunscreen, that could lead to a serious medical problem. We'll get a report on sun poisoning in just a minute.

COOPER: I think you and I are both the palest people to be doing the sun story. It doesn't make any sense.

COLLINS: Oh, man.

COOPER: Also, a special edition of "90-Second Pop" also ahead, talking about the surprises in this year's Emmy nominations. They were announced less than an hour ago. A lot of surprises this morning.

COLLINS: Anderson, 111 days to go in the countdown to the November 2 election. President Bush wrapped up his Midwest campaign swing, emphasizing national security and the need to show strength in the war on terror.

Democrat John Kerry is expected to tell the NAACP this morning that as president, he will always talk to people who disagree with him. That's a swipe at President Bush, who is angry with the way he's been portrayed by the organization and declined their offer to speak. President Bush will address The Urban League, as you just heard, later this month. But some African-Americans won't be addressing the NAACP this week at its convention. CNN's Jason Carroll has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Familiar sounds, familiar faces, but one familiar face that wasn't here, the president of the United States.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Kerry accepted our invitation to speak at this convention. And the president of the United States did not.

CARROLL: President Bush's decision not to address the convention sent a resounding message Maxine Smith (ph), a Democrat, and Gladys Johnson (ph), who says she sometimes votes Republican.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I feel that he missed an opportunity by not coming.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said, I don't care about you. I don't care what you think.

CARROLL: And it's not just the older delegates who feel that way.

(on camera): Who is upset by the president's decision not to come here to speak?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It speaks volumes to the commitment that President Bush has to the communities of color.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The people who agree with the NAACP and the people who do not still think that he should respect the organization enough to hear what they have to say.

CARROLL: The White House says a scheduling conflict prevented the president from attending. That did not help his already strained relationship with the NAACP. To that, attorney Douglas Oden says, so what?

DOUGLAS ODEN, PRESIDENT, SAN DIEGO NAACP: I think the president has a habit of going to locations where everyone agrees with him. He goes to rallies where everyone is waving flags. And if you don't listen to what the other part of Americans is saying, you can have flawed advice.

CARROLL: And while most criticism is directed at Bush, the Democrats are also taking heat for what some here say is a feeling that party takes the black vote for granted.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Democratic Party, we support them more historically, but if we had another party that could speak more to our needs as a community, I'm certain that our votes would go that way. CARROLL: John Kerry will speak at the convention tomorrow. And under pressure from African-American leaders, the Democratic Party added a black speaker to its convention lineup, Senate candidate Barack Obama of Illinois. Many here say that was a symbolic gesture and it will take more than symbolism for either Democrats or Republicans to win their votes.

Jason Carroll, CNN, Philadelphia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: So the question, is it possible to be allergic to the sun? Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is filling in for Sanjay Gupta today. She's at the CNN Center with advice on how to find out if you have a sun allergy.

What's this about, Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, the fancy word for a sun allergy would be Polymorphous Light Eruption. And it often happens when people go out in the sun for the first time in the year, they haven't had much sun exposure, they've been covered up over the winter, then they go out and can get this.

As many as 10 percent of all Americans will have this happen to them at some point in their life. And it can take just as little as 30 minutes of sun exposure to get this rash.

Let's take a look at the rash. It's sort of bumpy and itchy. You see it right there. It's little red spots. And, again, it can happen with just as little as 30 minutes of exposure to the sun.

For some reason, and it's not entirely clear why, it's two to three times more likely to happen to women than to men. The little bumps can itch or they can sting. And they tend to happen to skin that's covered in the winter but exposed in the summer. You saw in those pictures the man's upper arm or the woman's upper chest that had been covered up during the winter and then exposed when you go out and wear a bathing suit.

Now, if you get this rash, do not flip out. It goes away within a week. And it really in the end ends up being not such a big deal -- Anderson.

COOPER: Got a question, though. If you don't, you know, want to wait for it to go away, what do you do?

COHEN: Right. There are some things you can do. First of all, you can use cold compresses, and that will help you feel better. Also you can use over the counter corticosteroids, and that's a cream that you can just buy in any drugstore. And that will help as well with some of the itchiness.

COOPER: Technically speaking, is this an allergy to the sun?

COHEN: Technically speaking, doctors say that it could be an allergy or it could also be a toxic reaction to the sun. It's not clear. For some people, it may be that your body actually has a histamine reaction, actually has a -- an allergic reaction to the sun. For other people, the sun is for some reason toxic to your body.

COOPER: All right. Elizabeth Cohen, thanks very much.

COHEN: Thanks.

COLLINS: Still to come this morning, a special Emmy edition of "90-Second Pop." The nominees are in. But some favorites just didn't cut the mustard. How about "Sex in the City?"

COOPER: Well, yes. "Deadwood" also.

Plus, a great deal for any bald man with a big appetite. What's that about? Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: The nominees are out, and we have a special Emmy edition of "90-Second Pop." Our panel normally sleeps in on a Thursday, but here they are.

Thanks so much. Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly, thanks for being here. Sarah Bernard, from "New York" magazine, and B.J. Sigesmund (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from "US Weekly," thanks, you guys, again, for being here.

So, OK, let's break it down real quick. Any surprises here? I mean, we see "Joan of Arcadia." Amber Tamblyn, right?

JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Yes. Amber Tamblyn, she's a -- she's a promising young star. I was actually in Vancouver with her yesterday...

COLLINS: Wow.

SHAW: ... on the set with her next movie, "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," and she -- she is really a quite extraordinary young actress. So it was a very nice surprise.

One of the less nice surprises, at least for me personally, was seeing "Will and Grace" that got nominated for best comedy, which was like the show wasn't even good this year! Where did this come from?

B.J. SIGESMUND, "US WEEKLY": This was the year Deborah Messing was pregnant in real life on the show. Real life, but they hid it on the show with these like moo moos and things. It was obvious. It was so obvious she was pregnant.

(CROSSTALK)

SHAW: Back to "I love Lucy." You remember that?

COLLINS: Yes, because that's an old tradition, or old trick, right?

SHAW: But I think, you know -- and I think "Arrested Development" was a wonderful addition to the best comedy. And the other big surprise was "The Reagans," a show that CBS dumped.

SARAH BERNARD, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: That was a great show. And honestly, I was not...

SIGESMUND: It was not a great show.

BERNARD: I loved it. It was so campy, which is obviously not what they meant. But it got the same amount of nominations as "Friends" did, believe it or not.

SHAW: Seven nominations. It's crazy.

COLLINS: Well, and speaking of, it kind of got snubbed that show, didn't it?

BERNARD: Well, "Friends"...

COLLINS: Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox.

BERNARD: The thing about -- the headline for "Friends" really is that Courtney Cox did not get a nomination. And this plot -- this year's plot was really all about her and Chandler and adopting a baby. And not only that, she has never gotten nominated for an Emmy in the entire life of the show. So that was pretty surprising.

I mean, when the show started, she was the -- the big star. And she completely got overshadowed by Jennifer Aniston.

SHAW: But she has her home design show now to look forward to.

SIGESMUND: Oh.

BERNARD: So maybe that will get an Emmy.

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: I forgot about that one.

SHAW: So did we all.

COLLINS: B.J., your thoughts on all of this, "Friends" getting the snub, and in place of it -- I mean, is there anything really in place of it? Because this was end of the series. And it would seem like when you coming to a close with one of these series, that you really get the big kabam at the end.

SIGESMUND: Well, the thing is, the problem with the Emmys, as always, is they keep rewarding shows years after they hit their peaks with more and more nominations. The best example of that is Jennifer Aniston and Matt Le Blanc getting more nominations for "Friends," when Courtney Cox really deserved one.

I think as far as what I can see happening this year, Sara Jessica Parker, everyone thinks that she has won an Emmy for best actress. But the truth is, she's only won a Golden Globe. This is finally the year she got another nomination for her work on "Sex in the City."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That will be the sentimental vote, her going...

SIGESMUND: Yes, this is going to be the sentimental vote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the best dressed vote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, exactly.

SIGESMUND: She'll probably win.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's important.

COLLINS: You mentioned the sentimental vote. We, of course, are looking at Sara Jessica Parker right now. But there's another sentimental vote, isn't there?

SIGESMUND: Another big one is John Ritter, nominated in the best actor category for comedy. As you know, he died this year right in the middle of the second season of "Eight Simple Rules."

Now, this show was never a big hit with audiences or critics. He died in the middle of the second season, so they changed it around. He did get nominated. He doesn't really have that much competition. The biggest...

SHAW: I think Larry David probably, right?

SIGESMUND: Possibly Larry David will win this. But...

SHAW: And Larry David doesn't want to show up. He hates making speeches. It's his worst nightmare that he would be nominated.

COLLINS: He could do an episode on it, though...

SHAW: Right, exactly.

COLLINS: ... form "Curb Your Enthusiasm," right.

BERNARD: The Woody Allen -- the Woody Allen of the Emmys.

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: All right.

SIGESMUND: I can see John Ritter winning it posthumously.

COLLINS: OK. All right. Well, we will see, of course. Just the nominations today, so we're waiting for the final answer.

All right. Thank you so much, you guys, as always, on a special Thursday morning, Jessica, B.J. and Sarah. Thank you again -- Anderson.

COOPER: And "Deadwood" was robbed. Still to come, a message to the follically challenged: take heart, you may have lost your hair but you will not go hungry? Hmm.

Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Forty-five minutes past 9:00 now. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Daryn Kagan once again.

Hi, Daryn.

KAGAN: Heidi, U.S. forces are launching a new military operation in Afghanistan. Pentagon officials say that what they call Operation Lightning Resolve is focused on securing the country ahead of October's elections. A recent string of attacks has raised concerns that violence could erupt during the electoral process.

A Philippine man held hostage in Iraq is reportedly coming home. The Arabic language news network, Al-Jazeera, showed new pictures Angelo de la Cruz this morning. In a statement believed to be from de la Cruz, he thanks the Philippine president for abiding by the kidnappers' demands and withdrawing troops from Iraq. He also tells his wife and family he is on his way home. That statement has not been verified.

The government is reportedly grounding a controversial plan to collect information about airline passengers. "USA Today" quotes Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge as saying that officials had all but scrapped plans for the program, citing concerns over privacy and effectiveness. The plan had allowed officials to collect personal details and rank travelers according to terrorist risk levels.

To California. Thunderstorms are helping some crews contain wildfires in southern California. More than 21,000 acres of brush and forest have been destroyed across the state. Thousands of firefighters are battling a number of different blazes. Some 600 homes have been evacuated in recent days.

And finally, a story for the follically challenged. A restaurant near Sacramento is offering a reduced price menu for bald men and those with, shall we say, thinning hair. They say the less hair a patron has, the lower they are going to pay for dinner on Wednesdays. Business reportedly is good.

Anderson, however, we are a still looking for the restaurant that's making the special deal for the prematurely foxy and silver.

COOPER: OK, yeah. Well, we'll see about that, yeah. I'm not sure there is a big market for that.

COLLINS: A market of one.

COOPER: Market of one. Thanks, Daryn.

Still to come, Whoopi Goldberg pays a price for bad-mouthing the president. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."

Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Let's get a check on the action on Wall Street now, and a diet company that's slimming down and dropping a certain celebrity spokeswoman.

Andy Serwer going to start with the markets, though, right?

ANDY SERWER, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, FORTUNE MAGAZINE: We're going to start with the markets. Stocks moving up this morning, Heidi. Let's check out the Big Board.

Well, that's not much of a rally. That's up four points. Five. All right. Yea.

One reason the markets are up this morning is Apple Computer. I told Anderson Cooper to buy the stock yesterday. The stock is up over $3 to $33 this morning.

A lot of action in the casino sector. Harrah's buying Caesar's. We talked about that.

Nokia is, to the downside, having some problems -- continue for the giant Finnish phone company.

Whoopi Goldberg, we've been talking about this.

COLLINS: Whoopi whooping it up.

SERWER: Yes, Whoopi is -- well, whooping it up a little too much. You probably heard, of course, by now that last week she made some lewd comments about President Bush, offended all sorts of people, including Slim-Fast.

She is a spokeswoman, or was for this dietary supplemental drink company. And today she got canned. They bagged her. They said they didn't like what she said.

I got to tell you, interestingly, in the campaign, she calls herself a big loser. Get it? Well, today it's maybe come true.

I thought this was a knee-jerk reaction. Slim-Fast, the founder of the company has given a lot of money to John Kerry. The company is owned by Unilever, OK, which is the Anglo Dutch giant. It knows all about the subtleties of presidential politics.

I mean, what are they getting into this for? You can see here is the statement from Slim-Fast. It doesn't really say that much. I'm not going to read it. It just says, you know, we regret to inform you that you're gone.

(LAUGHTER) SERWER: And the other thing here -- the other thing here is, look at Justin Timberlake, right? I mean, the guy -- this is a man who created an entire wardrobe malfunction, almost single handedly, and yet McDonald's stuck with him.

(CROSSTALK)

SERWER: OK? He did distance himself, said it was an accident. I don't want to relive that controversy. But anyway...

COLLINS: Yes, but Janet got pulled off her...

COOPER: You're still hot and bothered about that.

SERWER: Yes, I'm still troubled by that, Anderson. Yes. But Janet has the problem.

COOPER: You feel Justin didn't pay enough.

SERWER: Well, you know, this is the whole thing.

(CROSSTALK)

SERWER: Do you stick with one of these celebrities -- exactly. Have you not suffered enough yet?

You know, I'm just going to turn this over to Toure, who's much better on these subjects, right? Why don't we do that?

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: What about "IN THE MONEY"? Aren't you going to talk about...

SERWER: Oh, we can talk about -- oh, the "IN THE MONEY" program. Join us this weekend for "IN THE MONEY." Yes, we've got a promo here.

Is the nation's political culture -- cultural divide as wide as everyone things? We'll talk to an expert who thinks it's all a myth. That on "IN THE MONEY" Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern and Sundays at 3:00. Be there.

Thank you.

COOPER: And a man who is rolling in the money, Toure.

SERWER: Toure. Good transition.

(LAUGHTER)

SERWER: Man, he's Mr. transition.

TOURE, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE:" Wow.

COOPER: The "Question of the Day." What is the question? I forgot it. TOURE: Well, the "Question of the Day," do non-career politicians belong in politics? Mike Ditka has decided not to run or for the Senate. But we see athletes, actors and such running for office and throwing their hat in the ring all the time.

So we got three interesting answers. Kathy from New York City, a great place, "It depends on what their career is/was. If they're high-ranking executive of a Fortune 500 company, sure, they played enough politics during that career honestly. But wrestlers, actors and bodybuilders need not apply."

Even though a wrestler just did quite well in Minnesota. So I don't know, Kathy.

"I don't" -- this one is anonymous. "I don't want a non-career mechanic working on my car. I don't want a non-career plumber fixing my sink. I don't want a non-career doctor checking my prostate. Why should I want non-career politicians?"

You can like hear like swiveling her neck like, "I don't want no" -- OK.

And this is the best one of the day. Kathleen from Tampa, Florida, "Any woman who spent time at home raising a family is far more suited for public office. We know how to balance a budget, settle disputes without actually killing our children in the process, and smell a lie from a mile away."

Congratulations. That's the best one.

COLLINS: I like it too. Woman, hear my roar.

SERWER: Yeah, right.

(LAUGHTER)

SERWER: Helen Reddy for president. Because she's Australian, though, right?

COLLINS: There's an idea.

TOURE: An independent woman that's very bootylicious, you know. Absolutely.

SERWER: Oh, you're just dropping those words in. I like how you just...

COOPER: It all comes full circle, Toure.

SERWER: Very natural, yes. It always does.

TOURE: We're jumping the shark (ph) now.

COLLINS: You definitely are.

Coming up on CNN, still need a vacation idea for the summer? You certainly might after watching this program. Well, why get away from it all, though, when you can actually take that week off and test drive a new job? A look at Vocation Vacations coming up in the next hour with Daryn Kagan on "CNN LIVE TODAY."

And AMERICAN MORNING will be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Martha Stewart's sentencing tomorrow in Manhattan. Tonight on "360," women behind bars. What would Martha Stewart's life be like in prison? That's 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on "360."

COLLINS: Well, hey, we've had a great time this morning. We certainly hope that you have as well.

(LAUGHTER)

COLLINS: Yes, OK. Enough on that.

SERWER: You better have a good time. He's having a good -- you better. You are, right?

COLLINS: We hope you tune in tomorrow, everybody. In the meantime, Daryn is standing by to take us through the next couple of hours on "CNN LIVE TODAY."

KAGAN: All right.

COLLINS: Hi, Daryn.

KAGAN: Good morning all of you. I will see you first thing tomorrow morning, 7:00 a.m. Right now, we'll get started from the CNN headquarters in Atlanta.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.


Aired July 15, 2004 - 9:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks for joining us, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. Bill is on vacation this week, and Soledad is resting up.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Anderson Cooper, trying to fill in for Bill Hemmer.

Some of the news making headlines this morning, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says the government is providing unprecedented security for the Democratic convention, which begins, of course, later this month. Ridge and the acting CIA director were in Boston yesterday. We're going to hear their comments. Also, talked to Chris Cox, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee about the threat level.

COLLINS: Also, in California, attorney Mark Geragos asking that murder charges be thrown out against Scott Peterson. We'll look at his complaint and whether the judge is likely to take it seriously.

COOPER: Also, Emmy nominations were just announced a few minutes ago. Some surprises. We'll tell you who is getting the recognition and which shows are the big surprises this year.

COLLINS: For now though, American officials are saying that they are very concerned about al Qaeda and the threat to somehow disrupt the presidential election. Yesterday, after inspecting security for the upcoming Democratic convention, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge described the quality of information behind their concern.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: They're credible, trustworthy sources, not terribly specific in terms of who, what, when and where, but targeting an opportune targeting attempt to undermine the democratic process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: The chairman of the House Homeland Security, Representative Chris Cox, is in Washington now. He speaks with us about the very latest here.

Good morning to you, sir. Thanks for being with us.

I want to ask you about what Tom Ridge said there, as well as the acting CIA chief, John McLaughlin. What he said was, "This is about as serious a threat environment as I have seen since 9/11." To you, is it all but inevitable that an attack, or at least a threat of an attack, is going to happen?

REP. CHRIS COX (R), CALIFORNIA: Well, of course it is inevitable we'll have a threat. We have a threat, we're living with a threat, but it's not inevitable that terrorists can succeed in the way that they did on September 11.

Obviously, when people are willing to blow themselves up, it makes it enormously difficult to preempt them every time. But we've been very, very successful since September 11. And, as you know, because some of it has been made public, there have been al Qaeda plots that have been intercepted. That's true not only in the United States, but also around the world. The security that we are going to see at the Democratic and Republican conventions coming up very, very shortly is going to make it much, much more difficult for people, terrorists or anyone else, who wants to wreak havoc to do so.

COLLINS: Representative Cox, you did just hear Tom Ridge say that this information on these threats, possible attacks, is very credible information. But no real specifics. How do you guard against any type of threat or attacker that you cannot really identify?

COX: Well, we do know who al Qaeda are. We know essentially where they are and where they're operating. I think you can infer from these very general public announcements when we say it's credible that this isn't just analysts piecing together what terrorists might do, but rather what we've been able to learn about specific terrorist capabilities and intentions.

That permits us to place our necessarily limited resources. Although we're increasing the amount of money and people that we put to work on this constantly, it means we put our limited resources to work right where they can do the most good.

COLLINS: And some of those resources obviously going to what we've learned to be called sleeper cells. Want to talk about that possibility, of al Qaeda already being or possibly already being on U.S. soil. Acting CIA director, once again, John McLaughlin, telling CNN that they are very concerned about these so-called sleeper cells. Let's listen in for just a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, ACTING CIA DIRECTOR: We have to go on the assumption that they, despite all of the effective defenses we've erected, and despite the increasing effectiveness of our homeland security, we have to go on this assumption. We can be excellent 1,000 times. All they have to do is be lucky once.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: What's being done to monitor those sleeper cells in an event of an attack?

COX: Here in the United States, domestic counterterrorism is principally the business of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Oversees operations are conducted by agencies such as the CIA. There is a close nexus in our country between counterterrorism and law enforcement, and so there is now an increasing sharing network between state and local law enforcement and federal authorities.

COLLINS: Are they sharing enough, though, Representative Cox, in your mind? Are they sharing enough?

COX: Well, to make sure that we get constantly better at this, the Homeland Security Committee, which I chair, is going to be moving legislation early next week to make sure that we have even better sharing, better infrastructure for doing so. Some of this gets down to, do we have secure networks, security IT connections between different levels of government, between different agencies?

We're investing a lot in that. We're trying to make sure we do it in a smart way. And I'll tell you, at the human level, the chiefs of police, the detectives, the intelligence people with state and local law enforcement are communicating as never before with their federal counterparts, and globally, in addition.

COLLINS: Representative Chris Cox this morning, thank you so much. Coming to us from Washington today.

COX: Happy to join you.

COLLINS: Anderson?

COOPER: Well, of course one of the big security concerns, Osama bin Laden. He is still one of the world's most notorious men, one of the most mysterious. Most likely, no one outside his inner circle really knows where he is.

Carmen bin Laden once lived in the al Qaeda leader's inner circle. She married one of bin Laden's more than two dozen brothers and made her him among his family in Saudi Arabia. Carmen bin Laden is now suing for divorce form her husband, and she has written about her experience in a book called "Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia." Earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, I asked her why she decided to write the book.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARMEN BIN Laden, AUTHOR, "INSIDE THE KINGDOM": I wrote that book for my daughter, first of all, to explain the Saudi society to them, the Saudi culture, and why I had made some decision on their behalf that had changed so dramatically their life. Because emotionally -- because my daughter had been rejected by the bin Laden family and the bin Laden clan, and by their father, because I managed to keep them outside of Saudi Arabia and give them the -- the Western values.

COOPER: You met Osama bin Laden when you were living in Saudi Arabia with your husband and with your family. When you first met him, what -- did you think?

BIN Laden: Actually, you know, in Saudi Arabia, the society doesn't allow you to meet -- and especially if your brother-in-law is very religious. Osama wouldn't sit and discuss with me. But I came -- I came to see him two times -- three times, and two times I was well, and another time it just happened that I -- he knocked at the door. He wanted to see my husband, and I opened the door. And I was face to face to him.

COOPER: And he was very sort of flustered by that?

Laden: Yes. He just turned his -- -- and walk away.

COOPER: What was your impression of him?

Laden: Well, you know, I knew he was a very religious person. He was well admired, because when the Soviet Union invited Afghanistan, he went to fight with the Mujahadeen...

COOPER: Right.

Laden: ... in Afghanistan, and he was really admired, and they respected him in Saudi Arabia for his involvement in Afghanistan.

COOPER: Do you -- do you still think he is admired and respected by -- by many in Saudi Arabia, and also perhaps even by his own family still?

Laden: Yes, I do believe that. Yes. I think that he has -- he has a lot of -- a lot of admirers in Saudi Arabia.

COOPER: Do you think he still gets financial support from his family?

Laden: I think that it's very difficult for the bin Ladens to let down their brother so easily.

COOPER: For -- I mean, you grew up in Europe, and yet you were living in Saudi Arabia. The life is so different. Describe what it is like being a woman in Saudi Arabia. I mean, you can't go anywhere. You -- you are veiled, you -- I think at one point walking across the street was considered a big victory.

Laden: Yes, it was. But, you know, for me, as a mother of two daughters at the time, what was bothering me was that I was wondering what their future would be as...

COOPER: As a woman.

Laden: ... in that -- as a woman in that society. In Saudi Arabia, a woman can be -- can be independent financially and own -- own property, but morally she's always under the tutorship of a male relative.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: That was Carmen bin Laden, former sister-in-law of Osama bin Laden, with us earlier -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Just about 10 minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Daryn Kagan -- Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And Heidi, for that, we're going to start in Iraq, where a new security service is being formed to battle insurgents. Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says the new service will "annihilate those terrorists, god willing." Allawi invited several other countries to send troops to help secure Iraq. He spoke just two hours after two suspected suicide bombers detonated a bomb near a police roadblock outside of Karbala.

Also today, a car bombing in western Iraq killed at least 10 Iraqis.

Here in the U.S., there's a new study out. It says that some common household products could pose a health hazard. The study suggests that toxic chemicals may be found in some makeup, some cleaning supplies, but they aren't mentioned on the labels. Consumer industry officials acknowledge the findings but insist the products are safe.

Former Chicago Bears head coach, Mike Ditka, says he will not be uprooting his life. Ditka speaking today about his decision not to run for a Senate seat in Illinois. Ditka's decision leaves Republican without a candidate less than four months before Election Day.

Supporters of same-sex marriage are cheering the defeat of a proposed constitutional amendment that would have banned such unions. The proposed amendment fell a dozen votes short of the number needed just to clear a procedural hurdle yesterday. President Bush said he was disappointed that the amendment was blocked and urged the House to take up the matter. Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards did not vote on that procedural vote.

Less than a half hour ago, the Emmy nominations were announced in Los Angeles. That's where we find our Sibilia Vargas with a look at who is in and who is out -- Sibila.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a very big day for the Emmys, 56 annual Emmy nominations. And let's get right to it.

In the comedy category, "Arrested Development," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Sex in the City," "Will and Grace." And let me just tell you that "Arrested Development" is the big surprise right now. It's a show that's really been loved by the critics, but it hasn't done very well in the ratings.

So right now, "Arrested Development" is looking very good. And I'm sure there's a lot of happy folks out there.

Now, in drama, in the drama series, "CSI," "Joan of Arcadia," "The Sopranos," "24" and "The West Wing." And I have to point out that "The Sopranos" had 20 nominations. It's the most in this -- in the series category.

Also, it's very important to point out that "Joan of Arcadia" got a nomination. That's a show that, again, it's with CBS. It hasn't done that well in the ratings. A lot of critics didn't think it was going to make it.

But you know what? It did. It's a show that focuses a lot on -- on spirituality. And I think it had god on its side.

Amber Tamblyn also, she's one of the young actresses on the show, and she was also nominated. And that's a huge surprise, because now she's going to be, of course, facing some big top competition, like Edie Falco.

Another -- in the mini series category, "Angels in America" had the most nominations. That's HBO. Twenty-one nominations. Of course, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson, all the actors and actresses that were on that -- on that mini series were definitely helpful.

So that's the story coming to you live from the Emmy nominations.

KAGAN: All right. All right, girlfriend, let's talk "Friends" and the series. Two key acting nominations, but the series not nominated for best comedy series.

VARGAS: Not -- no, not nominated. You know, a lot of people were thinking that "Friends" and "Frasier" were both going to get nominated. But unfortunately, you know, it was their finale and they were snubbed, you know?

Jennifer Aniston was actually the only person that was nominated. And actually Matt Le Blanc as well. But definitely a lot of -- a lot of critics are going to have a tough time with that one.

KAGAN: We will be watching as people get to talk about it leading up to when they're handed out in September. Sibila Vargas joining us from southern California. Thank you for that.

And we'll toss it back to New York.

COLLINS: All right, Daryn. Thanks a lot.

Testimony continuing today at Scott Peterson's double murder trial in Redwood City, California. Everyone still waiting to hear from Peterson's ex-girlfriend, Amber Frey, who has yet to testify at the trial. And joining to us discuss all of latest developments now, CNN's Rusty Dornin.

Rusty, hello.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, the cross- examination of one of the key investigators is under way, Detective Dodge Hendee. Defense attorney Mark Geragos questioned him extensively about the bay searches that were conducted on the bottom of the bay looking for any signs of the home-made anchors that prosecutors claim that Scott Peterson made, or even other parts of Laci Peterson's body, implying that if they didn't find it with the high technology that they were using, perhaps it wasn't there.

Also, it came out that there were searches conducted in April during jury selection. They actually went back and did some of their sonar searches of the bay, but it turned up nothing.

Hendee is also the one that discovered the controversial hair, and also the cement anchor and the cement residue that prosecutors claim shows that Scott Peterson made other anchors which he used to weight down his wife's body. But some of the most interesting testimony was out of earshot of the jury yesterday morning.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos did -- is going to ask for charges to be dismissed against his client, claiming that one of the other lead investigators, detective Al Brocchini, did lie upon the stand about some information that he did receive from a tipster. Also, the judge watched some of the -- one of the -- or two of the interviews, actually, that Diane Sawyer did with Scott Peterson in those interviews.

Scott Peterson said that he told police he was having an affair with Amber Frey. Investigators recently have testified that he did not. He also referred to his wife in the past tense, and then quickly corrected himself.

As we said, Detective Dodge Hendee will be back on the stand today. But then this afternoon, the jury will be let out again, and the judge will watch two other television interviews, one of them with CNN's own Ted Rowlands that he conducted with Scott Peterson -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. Rusty Dornin, thanks so much for the update from there -- Anderson.

COOPER: Well, a setback for the defense in the Kobe Bryant case. The judge will allow a secretly recorded police statement and evidence from the room where the alleged sexual assault occurred to be used at trial. Reporter Alex Stone has been covering the Bryant case for radio station KOA. He joins us now from Denver, Colorado.

Good morning, Alex.

ALEX STONE, KOA: Good morning, Anderson. How are you?

COOPER: Let's talk about this conversation secretly recorded by police. A lot of it is inaudible, apparently. But the judge is admitting it. Why?

STONE: The judge is going to admit it. It's a 72-minute tape, Anderson. It's a tape that we understand a lot of it you really can't understand what Kobe Bryant is saying in it.

Mainly, it is a tape that was taken and Kobe Bryant didn't know he was being recorded. But it's when detectives showed up at the spa at Cordillera to interview him, the very first initial interviews. The judge says Kobe Bryant had no reason to feel like he was in custody, so those detectives did not need to read him his Miranda rights, the right to remain silent, everything we see on TV, or some of us may have heard a time or two.

But they did not need to do that. They did not do it. But later statements will be tossed out, because at that time the judge says Kobe Bryant may have felt like he was in custody, and that's why he's tossing those later statements out.

COOPER: And I guess the most important piece of physical evidence that the judge has just decided to allow in is this T-shirt.

STONE: Yes, this is the T-shirt that for a long time both sides have been fighting about. This is a T-shirt that was taken by investigators the night they went to Kobe Bryant. They said, "Can we have your T-shirt?" The judge says they will be able to use it in court because Kobe Bryant freely gave it to them.

He did not fight them at all. They didn't need a search warrant to take it, because they asked and he handed it to them. This is a shirt with the accuser's blood on it, a very small amount of blood, but blood nonetheless. And now it will be allowed in the trial.

COOPER: Now, the evidence from Kobe Bryant's physical examination not being allowed in the trial. Interesting, though, the examination took place at night. I mean, I think a lot of people didn't realize this thing really took place beginning after like 1:00 a.m.

STONE: Yes. Most of it happened in the wee hours of the morning. And the examination of Kobe Bryant, the male rape exam hit, happened at almost 3:00 in the morning. And it was -- mainly DNA samples taken from Mr. Bryant, and an examination of his body for any bruises.

But at that time, he was told about a court order. So the -- a court order saying, according to the detectives, they said they had a right to take that evidence. So Kobe Bryant went along with it.

The judge says, because they told him about that court order, that he very well could have thought that he was in custody, and that's why the judge threw that out. Also, some of the evidence that was taken, the judge threw that out because the warrant, the order that they had, is called a 41-1 (ph) here in Colorado, and it only allows them to do that during the daytime.

All of the detectives said they didn't know that. They did this at 3:00 in the morning. But under the law and what was on that warrant, it's not allowed.

COOPER: All right. Alex Stone with KOA Radio. Thanks very much, Alex.

STONE: Thanks, Anderson.

COLLINS: We want to go ahead and get a check on the weather now. Chad Myers standing by at the CNN Center with the very latest.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COOPER: Chad, thanks very much.

One of my favorite actresses, Edie Falco, was just nominated for best actress Emmy for her huge on HBO's huge hit, "The Sopranos." Ms. Falco joins us live from Los Angeles.

Edie, it's great to see you again. Congratulations.

EDIE FALCO, ACTRESS, "THE SOPRANOS": Thank you, Anderson. And I love your show, I just wanted to say.

COOPER: Oh, I bet you say that to all the anchors.

FALCO: I do.

COOPER: Did you expect this at all? Because when it was read out, I think you said, "Oy."

FALCO: Like a good Italian girl. No, I didn't expect it. I didn't expect it. I have -- you know, I've been surprised at every turn with these award things. So I think you know what happens when you assume.

COOPER: Hey, I've heard. You've already won, though, I mean, three Emmys. Does it change the acting process in any way? I mean does it -- you know, I don't know if you read reviews about yourself, but does it change the way you think about -- about your role, about the character?

FALCO: No, it doesn't. It shouldn't. I think it's important that it doesn't, actually.

It can really skew the way you go about your work if you're going in terms of, you know, how people like you. You know? I think as long as I continue doing what I've been doing, whatever that is, I will be on the right track.

But, you know, it's an honor, it's exciting, and all that stuff. But as far as actually showing up on the set and doing the work, I hope it doesn't change as a result of awards or not awards.

COOPER: I've got to admit, I'm in complete denial that next season is the last season of "The Sopranos." Because, frankly, I really don't know what I will do.

FALCO: You and me both.

COOPER: I know, what I'll do on Sundays after this thing ends. I was afraid this season you were going to get killed. I was -- I watched every night, worried that this was going to happen.

FALCO: I'm glad you didn't tell me.

COOPER: What do you think is going to happen to Carmela -- well, it seemed that way. Some of the commercials kind of indicated it. I mean, you had this vicious divorce happening, but then in the end you guys are back together, you and Tony Soprano back together.

What do you think is -- I know you can't say and you don't even know what's going to happen. What would you like to see happen with Carmela? FALCO: The best thing is that I don't have to make decisions like that. I haven't the foggiest notion. I was as surprised as anybody else that Tony and Carmela got together. So I love the fact that David Chase is now I think in a chateau in France somewhere, you know, ruminating over these things. And I just show up and say the words and get my paycheck and go home.

COOPER: Not only -- I mean, of course, "Sopranos" is on HBO. But a lot of the nominations this year also went to -- went to "Angels in America," which I think is also on HBO. What is it about -- about the work you can do at a company like HBO or elsewhere on cable that you can't do on -- on broadcast network?

FALCO: I'm not quite sure how that works. But I've never felt like this before about being genuinely proud to be a part of an organization like HBO. They just have such good taste.

They take risks, but that doesn't always translate to mean, you know, they do like experimental stuff. It just means the stuff is great, the writing is great, the act something great. My experience of watching "Angels in America" was so huge. I was just so impressed.

So I forget what the question was.

COOPER: Well, that's all right. You sort of answered the question, though you forgot what it was.

FALCO: OK.

COOPER: Edie, it is great to talk to you. And we're all huge fans of you here. Thanks for being with us this morning.

FALCO: Thank you, Anderson. Thank you.

COOPER: Congratulations again -- Heidi.

FALCO: Thank you.

COLLINS: And I do love her hair. She had that haircut last time she was here.

COOPER: She looks totally cool.

COLLINS: Yes, very cool.

COOPER: She's the boss.

COLLINS: Shorter hair than mine. It looks good.

All right. Still to come, Whoopi Goldberg speaks out on politics and loses a job. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."

COOPER: Plus, another health risk for sun bathers. There is more than sun burn apparently to worry about.

COLLINS: Plus, part four of our weeklong series, "The Truth About Lying." Today's question, who lies more, men or women? Anderson says women.

COOPER: I did not say that! You're completely making that up. She's lying! You see? She's lying!

COLLINS: I'm very good at it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: All this week, we've been looking at "The Truth About Lying." Today's focus is on men and women, and how the lies we tell can build a relationship or tear it down.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS (voice-over): It's a refrain as old as time, women say men basically lie to get what they want.

GWENDOLYN ROBINSON, HUSBAND LIED: He started telling me about all these visions that god was giving him as far as being the right person in his life. Once I found the marriage licenses and I knew he was still married to these women, I didn't want it -- to see it happen to someone else.

COLLINS: Are men always the liars and women the ones who believe them? Get ready for the truth. Researchers say women lie the same amount as men. What's different about the sexes is what they lie about.

DORY HOLLANDER, AUTHOR, "101 LIES MEN TELL WOMEN": A lot of men feel that they have to compete with other men who have more money, who have a better job, who have more status. And so men will invent themselves and reinvent themselves in order to be attractive to a woman. Some men even lie about their eye color.

COLLINS: One study found that men lie to enhance their self- esteem. The same study found women are more likely to lie to spare the feelings of others.

HOLLANDER: The most common places that women protect their relationship are in the sanctity of the bedroom, where a woman will say that she's sexually fulfilled and she's not. She wants to protect his ego, she wants to make him feel good about her, about the relationship and about his performance.

COLLINS: But these days women may be telling different kinds of lies about what happens in the bedroom. A recent poll shows that the number of married women in America who have had affairs is rising. Still, less than men, but going up 50 percent in a decade.

HOLLANDER: Understand that people lie. You lie. I lie. We all lie. But some lies are going to be not acceptable, and that's where you have to draw your line in the sand. Lies of evasion are really hurtful.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Tomorrow, as our weeklong series continues, we'll focus on how to tell if someone is lying to you.

So did you hear that? Women lie the same amount as men. We're going to do some more research on that, though, for sure.

COOPER: Still to come, a special Emmy edition of "90-Second Pop." The nominations were announced this morning. What were the surprises and which favorites missed the cut? "Deadwood." The answers are coming up.

Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: The opening bell just rang on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average starts the day at 10,208, after losing nearly 39 points yesterday. At the Nasdaq marketsite, the Composite Index opens at 1,914, down almost 17 points yesterday.

COLLINS: Just about half past the hour now on this AMERICAN MORNING. I'm Heidi Collins. Bill is on vacation this week and Soledad is resting.

COOPER: And I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for joining us this morning.

Some of the headlines we're following this morning, President Bush will speak to a national civil rights group, though it is not the NAACP. He's accepted an invitation to address The Urban League. The question is, will that satisfy civil rights leaders? A report on that coming up next.

COLLINS: Also, it's the time of year when many Americans lay out in the sun. And even with sunscreen, that could lead to a serious medical problem. We'll get a report on sun poisoning in just a minute.

COOPER: I think you and I are both the palest people to be doing the sun story. It doesn't make any sense.

COLLINS: Oh, man.

COOPER: Also, a special edition of "90-Second Pop" also ahead, talking about the surprises in this year's Emmy nominations. They were announced less than an hour ago. A lot of surprises this morning.

COLLINS: Anderson, 111 days to go in the countdown to the November 2 election. President Bush wrapped up his Midwest campaign swing, emphasizing national security and the need to show strength in the war on terror.

Democrat John Kerry is expected to tell the NAACP this morning that as president, he will always talk to people who disagree with him. That's a swipe at President Bush, who is angry with the way he's been portrayed by the organization and declined their offer to speak. President Bush will address The Urban League, as you just heard, later this month. But some African-Americans won't be addressing the NAACP this week at its convention. CNN's Jason Carroll has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Familiar sounds, familiar faces, but one familiar face that wasn't here, the president of the United States.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Kerry accepted our invitation to speak at this convention. And the president of the United States did not.

CARROLL: President Bush's decision not to address the convention sent a resounding message Maxine Smith (ph), a Democrat, and Gladys Johnson (ph), who says she sometimes votes Republican.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I feel that he missed an opportunity by not coming.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said, I don't care about you. I don't care what you think.

CARROLL: And it's not just the older delegates who feel that way.

(on camera): Who is upset by the president's decision not to come here to speak?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It speaks volumes to the commitment that President Bush has to the communities of color.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The people who agree with the NAACP and the people who do not still think that he should respect the organization enough to hear what they have to say.

CARROLL: The White House says a scheduling conflict prevented the president from attending. That did not help his already strained relationship with the NAACP. To that, attorney Douglas Oden says, so what?

DOUGLAS ODEN, PRESIDENT, SAN DIEGO NAACP: I think the president has a habit of going to locations where everyone agrees with him. He goes to rallies where everyone is waving flags. And if you don't listen to what the other part of Americans is saying, you can have flawed advice.

CARROLL: And while most criticism is directed at Bush, the Democrats are also taking heat for what some here say is a feeling that party takes the black vote for granted.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Democratic Party, we support them more historically, but if we had another party that could speak more to our needs as a community, I'm certain that our votes would go that way. CARROLL: John Kerry will speak at the convention tomorrow. And under pressure from African-American leaders, the Democratic Party added a black speaker to its convention lineup, Senate candidate Barack Obama of Illinois. Many here say that was a symbolic gesture and it will take more than symbolism for either Democrats or Republicans to win their votes.

Jason Carroll, CNN, Philadelphia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: So the question, is it possible to be allergic to the sun? Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is filling in for Sanjay Gupta today. She's at the CNN Center with advice on how to find out if you have a sun allergy.

What's this about, Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, the fancy word for a sun allergy would be Polymorphous Light Eruption. And it often happens when people go out in the sun for the first time in the year, they haven't had much sun exposure, they've been covered up over the winter, then they go out and can get this.

As many as 10 percent of all Americans will have this happen to them at some point in their life. And it can take just as little as 30 minutes of sun exposure to get this rash.

Let's take a look at the rash. It's sort of bumpy and itchy. You see it right there. It's little red spots. And, again, it can happen with just as little as 30 minutes of exposure to the sun.

For some reason, and it's not entirely clear why, it's two to three times more likely to happen to women than to men. The little bumps can itch or they can sting. And they tend to happen to skin that's covered in the winter but exposed in the summer. You saw in those pictures the man's upper arm or the woman's upper chest that had been covered up during the winter and then exposed when you go out and wear a bathing suit.

Now, if you get this rash, do not flip out. It goes away within a week. And it really in the end ends up being not such a big deal -- Anderson.

COOPER: Got a question, though. If you don't, you know, want to wait for it to go away, what do you do?

COHEN: Right. There are some things you can do. First of all, you can use cold compresses, and that will help you feel better. Also you can use over the counter corticosteroids, and that's a cream that you can just buy in any drugstore. And that will help as well with some of the itchiness.

COOPER: Technically speaking, is this an allergy to the sun?

COHEN: Technically speaking, doctors say that it could be an allergy or it could also be a toxic reaction to the sun. It's not clear. For some people, it may be that your body actually has a histamine reaction, actually has a -- an allergic reaction to the sun. For other people, the sun is for some reason toxic to your body.

COOPER: All right. Elizabeth Cohen, thanks very much.

COHEN: Thanks.

COLLINS: Still to come this morning, a special Emmy edition of "90-Second Pop." The nominees are in. But some favorites just didn't cut the mustard. How about "Sex in the City?"

COOPER: Well, yes. "Deadwood" also.

Plus, a great deal for any bald man with a big appetite. What's that about? Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: The nominees are out, and we have a special Emmy edition of "90-Second Pop." Our panel normally sleeps in on a Thursday, but here they are.

Thanks so much. Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly, thanks for being here. Sarah Bernard, from "New York" magazine, and B.J. Sigesmund (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from "US Weekly," thanks, you guys, again, for being here.

So, OK, let's break it down real quick. Any surprises here? I mean, we see "Joan of Arcadia." Amber Tamblyn, right?

JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Yes. Amber Tamblyn, she's a -- she's a promising young star. I was actually in Vancouver with her yesterday...

COLLINS: Wow.

SHAW: ... on the set with her next movie, "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," and she -- she is really a quite extraordinary young actress. So it was a very nice surprise.

One of the less nice surprises, at least for me personally, was seeing "Will and Grace" that got nominated for best comedy, which was like the show wasn't even good this year! Where did this come from?

B.J. SIGESMUND, "US WEEKLY": This was the year Deborah Messing was pregnant in real life on the show. Real life, but they hid it on the show with these like moo moos and things. It was obvious. It was so obvious she was pregnant.

(CROSSTALK)

SHAW: Back to "I love Lucy." You remember that?

COLLINS: Yes, because that's an old tradition, or old trick, right?

SHAW: But I think, you know -- and I think "Arrested Development" was a wonderful addition to the best comedy. And the other big surprise was "The Reagans," a show that CBS dumped.

SARAH BERNARD, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: That was a great show. And honestly, I was not...

SIGESMUND: It was not a great show.

BERNARD: I loved it. It was so campy, which is obviously not what they meant. But it got the same amount of nominations as "Friends" did, believe it or not.

SHAW: Seven nominations. It's crazy.

COLLINS: Well, and speaking of, it kind of got snubbed that show, didn't it?

BERNARD: Well, "Friends"...

COLLINS: Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox.

BERNARD: The thing about -- the headline for "Friends" really is that Courtney Cox did not get a nomination. And this plot -- this year's plot was really all about her and Chandler and adopting a baby. And not only that, she has never gotten nominated for an Emmy in the entire life of the show. So that was pretty surprising.

I mean, when the show started, she was the -- the big star. And she completely got overshadowed by Jennifer Aniston.

SHAW: But she has her home design show now to look forward to.

SIGESMUND: Oh.

BERNARD: So maybe that will get an Emmy.

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: I forgot about that one.

SHAW: So did we all.

COLLINS: B.J., your thoughts on all of this, "Friends" getting the snub, and in place of it -- I mean, is there anything really in place of it? Because this was end of the series. And it would seem like when you coming to a close with one of these series, that you really get the big kabam at the end.

SIGESMUND: Well, the thing is, the problem with the Emmys, as always, is they keep rewarding shows years after they hit their peaks with more and more nominations. The best example of that is Jennifer Aniston and Matt Le Blanc getting more nominations for "Friends," when Courtney Cox really deserved one.

I think as far as what I can see happening this year, Sara Jessica Parker, everyone thinks that she has won an Emmy for best actress. But the truth is, she's only won a Golden Globe. This is finally the year she got another nomination for her work on "Sex in the City."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That will be the sentimental vote, her going...

SIGESMUND: Yes, this is going to be the sentimental vote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the best dressed vote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, exactly.

SIGESMUND: She'll probably win.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's important.

COLLINS: You mentioned the sentimental vote. We, of course, are looking at Sara Jessica Parker right now. But there's another sentimental vote, isn't there?

SIGESMUND: Another big one is John Ritter, nominated in the best actor category for comedy. As you know, he died this year right in the middle of the second season of "Eight Simple Rules."

Now, this show was never a big hit with audiences or critics. He died in the middle of the second season, so they changed it around. He did get nominated. He doesn't really have that much competition. The biggest...

SHAW: I think Larry David probably, right?

SIGESMUND: Possibly Larry David will win this. But...

SHAW: And Larry David doesn't want to show up. He hates making speeches. It's his worst nightmare that he would be nominated.

COLLINS: He could do an episode on it, though...

SHAW: Right, exactly.

COLLINS: ... form "Curb Your Enthusiasm," right.

BERNARD: The Woody Allen -- the Woody Allen of the Emmys.

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: All right.

SIGESMUND: I can see John Ritter winning it posthumously.

COLLINS: OK. All right. Well, we will see, of course. Just the nominations today, so we're waiting for the final answer.

All right. Thank you so much, you guys, as always, on a special Thursday morning, Jessica, B.J. and Sarah. Thank you again -- Anderson.

COOPER: And "Deadwood" was robbed. Still to come, a message to the follically challenged: take heart, you may have lost your hair but you will not go hungry? Hmm.

Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Forty-five minutes past 9:00 now. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Daryn Kagan once again.

Hi, Daryn.

KAGAN: Heidi, U.S. forces are launching a new military operation in Afghanistan. Pentagon officials say that what they call Operation Lightning Resolve is focused on securing the country ahead of October's elections. A recent string of attacks has raised concerns that violence could erupt during the electoral process.

A Philippine man held hostage in Iraq is reportedly coming home. The Arabic language news network, Al-Jazeera, showed new pictures Angelo de la Cruz this morning. In a statement believed to be from de la Cruz, he thanks the Philippine president for abiding by the kidnappers' demands and withdrawing troops from Iraq. He also tells his wife and family he is on his way home. That statement has not been verified.

The government is reportedly grounding a controversial plan to collect information about airline passengers. "USA Today" quotes Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge as saying that officials had all but scrapped plans for the program, citing concerns over privacy and effectiveness. The plan had allowed officials to collect personal details and rank travelers according to terrorist risk levels.

To California. Thunderstorms are helping some crews contain wildfires in southern California. More than 21,000 acres of brush and forest have been destroyed across the state. Thousands of firefighters are battling a number of different blazes. Some 600 homes have been evacuated in recent days.

And finally, a story for the follically challenged. A restaurant near Sacramento is offering a reduced price menu for bald men and those with, shall we say, thinning hair. They say the less hair a patron has, the lower they are going to pay for dinner on Wednesdays. Business reportedly is good.

Anderson, however, we are a still looking for the restaurant that's making the special deal for the prematurely foxy and silver.

COOPER: OK, yeah. Well, we'll see about that, yeah. I'm not sure there is a big market for that.

COLLINS: A market of one.

COOPER: Market of one. Thanks, Daryn.

Still to come, Whoopi Goldberg pays a price for bad-mouthing the president. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."

Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Let's get a check on the action on Wall Street now, and a diet company that's slimming down and dropping a certain celebrity spokeswoman.

Andy Serwer going to start with the markets, though, right?

ANDY SERWER, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, FORTUNE MAGAZINE: We're going to start with the markets. Stocks moving up this morning, Heidi. Let's check out the Big Board.

Well, that's not much of a rally. That's up four points. Five. All right. Yea.

One reason the markets are up this morning is Apple Computer. I told Anderson Cooper to buy the stock yesterday. The stock is up over $3 to $33 this morning.

A lot of action in the casino sector. Harrah's buying Caesar's. We talked about that.

Nokia is, to the downside, having some problems -- continue for the giant Finnish phone company.

Whoopi Goldberg, we've been talking about this.

COLLINS: Whoopi whooping it up.

SERWER: Yes, Whoopi is -- well, whooping it up a little too much. You probably heard, of course, by now that last week she made some lewd comments about President Bush, offended all sorts of people, including Slim-Fast.

She is a spokeswoman, or was for this dietary supplemental drink company. And today she got canned. They bagged her. They said they didn't like what she said.

I got to tell you, interestingly, in the campaign, she calls herself a big loser. Get it? Well, today it's maybe come true.

I thought this was a knee-jerk reaction. Slim-Fast, the founder of the company has given a lot of money to John Kerry. The company is owned by Unilever, OK, which is the Anglo Dutch giant. It knows all about the subtleties of presidential politics.

I mean, what are they getting into this for? You can see here is the statement from Slim-Fast. It doesn't really say that much. I'm not going to read it. It just says, you know, we regret to inform you that you're gone.

(LAUGHTER) SERWER: And the other thing here -- the other thing here is, look at Justin Timberlake, right? I mean, the guy -- this is a man who created an entire wardrobe malfunction, almost single handedly, and yet McDonald's stuck with him.

(CROSSTALK)

SERWER: OK? He did distance himself, said it was an accident. I don't want to relive that controversy. But anyway...

COLLINS: Yes, but Janet got pulled off her...

COOPER: You're still hot and bothered about that.

SERWER: Yes, I'm still troubled by that, Anderson. Yes. But Janet has the problem.

COOPER: You feel Justin didn't pay enough.

SERWER: Well, you know, this is the whole thing.

(CROSSTALK)

SERWER: Do you stick with one of these celebrities -- exactly. Have you not suffered enough yet?

You know, I'm just going to turn this over to Toure, who's much better on these subjects, right? Why don't we do that?

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: What about "IN THE MONEY"? Aren't you going to talk about...

SERWER: Oh, we can talk about -- oh, the "IN THE MONEY" program. Join us this weekend for "IN THE MONEY." Yes, we've got a promo here.

Is the nation's political culture -- cultural divide as wide as everyone things? We'll talk to an expert who thinks it's all a myth. That on "IN THE MONEY" Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern and Sundays at 3:00. Be there.

Thank you.

COOPER: And a man who is rolling in the money, Toure.

SERWER: Toure. Good transition.

(LAUGHTER)

SERWER: Man, he's Mr. transition.

TOURE, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE:" Wow.

COOPER: The "Question of the Day." What is the question? I forgot it. TOURE: Well, the "Question of the Day," do non-career politicians belong in politics? Mike Ditka has decided not to run or for the Senate. But we see athletes, actors and such running for office and throwing their hat in the ring all the time.

So we got three interesting answers. Kathy from New York City, a great place, "It depends on what their career is/was. If they're high-ranking executive of a Fortune 500 company, sure, they played enough politics during that career honestly. But wrestlers, actors and bodybuilders need not apply."

Even though a wrestler just did quite well in Minnesota. So I don't know, Kathy.

"I don't" -- this one is anonymous. "I don't want a non-career mechanic working on my car. I don't want a non-career plumber fixing my sink. I don't want a non-career doctor checking my prostate. Why should I want non-career politicians?"

You can like hear like swiveling her neck like, "I don't want no" -- OK.

And this is the best one of the day. Kathleen from Tampa, Florida, "Any woman who spent time at home raising a family is far more suited for public office. We know how to balance a budget, settle disputes without actually killing our children in the process, and smell a lie from a mile away."

Congratulations. That's the best one.

COLLINS: I like it too. Woman, hear my roar.

SERWER: Yeah, right.

(LAUGHTER)

SERWER: Helen Reddy for president. Because she's Australian, though, right?

COLLINS: There's an idea.

TOURE: An independent woman that's very bootylicious, you know. Absolutely.

SERWER: Oh, you're just dropping those words in. I like how you just...

COOPER: It all comes full circle, Toure.

SERWER: Very natural, yes. It always does.

TOURE: We're jumping the shark (ph) now.

COLLINS: You definitely are.

Coming up on CNN, still need a vacation idea for the summer? You certainly might after watching this program. Well, why get away from it all, though, when you can actually take that week off and test drive a new job? A look at Vocation Vacations coming up in the next hour with Daryn Kagan on "CNN LIVE TODAY."

And AMERICAN MORNING will be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Martha Stewart's sentencing tomorrow in Manhattan. Tonight on "360," women behind bars. What would Martha Stewart's life be like in prison? That's 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on "360."

COLLINS: Well, hey, we've had a great time this morning. We certainly hope that you have as well.

(LAUGHTER)

COLLINS: Yes, OK. Enough on that.

SERWER: You better have a good time. He's having a good -- you better. You are, right?

COLLINS: We hope you tune in tomorrow, everybody. In the meantime, Daryn is standing by to take us through the next couple of hours on "CNN LIVE TODAY."

KAGAN: All right.

COLLINS: Hi, Daryn.

KAGAN: Good morning all of you. I will see you first thing tomorrow morning, 7:00 a.m. Right now, we'll get started from the CNN headquarters in Atlanta.

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